Interventions in community library services for HIV/AIDS awareness : a case study in the Bojanala region

Abstract

This dissertation reports on a study undertaken to determine interventions that community libraries can engage in to improve HIV/AIDS awareness. \nChapter One describes the background for the study by providing information portraying the background, research problem, aim and objectives -as well as the research methodology to be followed to ensure its successful completion. \n \nChapter Two examines the social role and responsibility of the community library - with reference to HIV/AIDS awareness. International and national sources are used to establish what role the community libraries should play in providing resources for communal benefit. \n \nChapter Three deals with HIV/AIDS awareness interventions currently engaged in by community libraries as well as proposed interventions. A list and description of intervention types is included. This list forms the foundation for the interview guide. \n \nChapter Four describes the interview process. \n \nChapter Five reports on the results of the interviews. \n \nChapter Six provides an integrated summary of the findings from the literature review and those from the interviews in the Bojanala region. \nChapter Seven concludes with a summary of recommendations and suggestions for possible further research. \nEssentially, the study consists of \nan examination of the social role and responsibility of the community library regarding HIV/AIDS awareness. \nAn international and national literature review of the types of interventions that community libraries can embark upon to promote HIV/AIDS awareness amongst community members of all age groups. \t \nAn investigation - by means of interviews with librarians/library workers in the Bojanala region - on what interventions are currently undertaken to promote HIV/AIDS awareness among the community of the Bojanala region. \nRecommendations regarding the types of interventions that community libraries in South Africa may provide to assist in enhancing HIV/AIDS awareness. \nThe literature review identified the social role and responsibility of the community library; interventions currently engaged in by community libraries; and pointed the way for proposed HIV/AIDS awareness interventions that community libraries could embark on as part of their social responsibility role. \nIt was clear from the national and international literature review that the community library - with its years of experience in information acquisition, organisation, dissemination and use - is a natural ally in supporting HIV/AIDS awareness. The aim of this investigation was to determine the social role and responsibility of community libraries in the promotion of HIV/AIDS awareness. \nThe interventions that community library services could embark on to promote HIV/AIDS awareness. \nThe researcher investigated the interventions that the Bojanala region could embark on to comply with the vision of the Department of Social Development (2002:9) ”that both the government and civil society as a whole develop well directed and purposeful programmes to tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic.” This was done through face-to-face interviews with librarians/library workers responsible for managing community projects. Compared with the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in other regions and provinces (Northern Cape and Limpopo) with similar populations, the Bojanala region was identified as a region with a high HIV prevalence rate. \nThe recommendations made by the researcher covered nine sections pertaining to HIV/AIDS interventions, namely: \n \tUsers \n \tPolicies \n \tHIV/AIDS information resources \n \tCollection Development \n \tPartnerships \n \tHIV/AIDS awareness programmes \n \tInterventions \n \tPromotion \n \tStaff training \nThe recommendations that emerge from the research could be implemented in any community library in any given country with a high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.

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